9 Indicted In Takedown Of Eastern Shore Drug Ring
A ‘significant’ drug trafficking organization on the Eastern Shore has been broken up following an investigation lasting several months, which has led to the indictments of nine people.
According to Maryland State Police, the Caroline County Drug Task Force began investigating distribution of large amounts of cocaine, opioids, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamines in Caroline and Dorchester Counties, as well as in parts of Delaware. Other law enforcement agencies joined the investigation, which led to eleven search warrants being carried out at homes in Preston, Hurlock, Federalsburg, Lanham and Crofton, Maryland.
In addition to drugs, 34 firearms were also seized as well as money believed to be connected to the drug operation. Several of the defendants are charged with being a drug ‘kingpin.’
Maryland State Police released these details and photos Tuesday:
As a result of those search warrants, police recovered over 18 kilograms of cocaine, 2.7 kilograms of heroin/fentanyl, 5.9 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 170 pounds of marijuana and approximately 34 firearms along with money believed to be connected to the drug operation.
The following people were indicted during the investigation:
- Justin Aaron Spain, 41, of Lanham, Maryland
Charged with:
- 2 counts of being a drug kingpin
- Possession of large amount of controlled dangerous substance
- Distribution of large amount of controlled dangerous substance
- Distribution of narcotics
- 2 counts of conspiracy to distribute narcotic
- Possession with intent to distribute narcotics
- 2 counts of possession with intent to distribute narcotics
- Conspiracy with intent to distribute narcotics
Status: Being held at the Caroline County Detention Center without bond
- Michael Anthony Holland, 36, of Hurlock, Maryland
Charged with:
- 3 counts of being a drug kingpin
- 3 counts conspiracy to distribute large amounts of narcotics
- 3 counts conspiracy to distribute narcotics
- Felon in possession of firearm
- Rifle/shotgun possession by disqualified person
- Illegal possession ammunition
Status: Being held at the Dorchester County Detention Center without bond
- Gregory Lovern Williams Jr., 39, of Federalsburg, Maryland
Charged with:
- 2 counts of being a drug kingpin
- 2 counts of conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances
- 4 counts conspiracy to distribute narcotics
- Firearm possession with a felony conviction
- Illegal possession of ammunition
- Possession of controlled dangerous substance not-marijuana
Status: Being held at the Dorchester County Detention Center held without bond
- Margerette Derosiers, 28, of Federalsburg, Maryland
Charged with:
- Conspiracy to distribute large amounts of controlled dangerous substances
- Conspiracy to distribute narcotics
- 2 counts of possession with intent to distribute narcotics
- 2 counts possession of controlled dangerous substances not-marijuana
Status: Being held at the Dorchester County Detention Center held without bond
- Andre Luther Woolford, 33, of Hurlock, Maryland
Charged with:
- Possession with intent to distribute narcotics
- 2 counts of conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute narcotics
- Possession of controlled dangerous substance not-marijuana
Status: Being held at the Dorchester County Detention Center held without bond
- Joseph Archie Spain III, 44, of Preston, Maryland
Charged with:
- 2 counts of possession with intent to distribute narcotics
- 2 counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances
- 3 counts of conspiracy with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances
- 3 counts of use of a firearm in drug trafficking
- Controlled dangerous substance nuisance
- 2 counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance – not marijuana
- Possession of more than 10 grams of marijuana
Status: Being held without bond at the Caroline County Detention Center
- Michelle Lynn Spain, 48, of Preston, Maryland
Charged with:
- Conspiracy to commit possession with intent to distribute narcotics.
- 2 counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances
- 2 counts of conspiracy to commit possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances
- 3 counts of using a firearm in drug trafficking
- Controlled dangerous substance nuisance
- 2 counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance – not marijuana
- Possession of more than 10 grams of marijuana
Status: Being held without bond at the Caroline County Detention Center
- James Eugene Simms, 36, of Great Mills, Maryland
Charged with:
- Possession with intent to distribute narcotics
- Conspiracy to distribute narcotics
- Possession of a controlled dangerous substance – not marijuana
Status: Being held at the Caroline County Detention Center without bond
- George Alfred Butler, 56, of Federalsburg, Maryland
Charged with:
- Possession with intent to distribute narcotics
- Conspiracy to distribute narcotics
- Possession of a controlled dangerous substance – not marijuana
Status: Being held at the Caroline County Detention Center without bond
The Caroline County Drug Task Force is a multi-agency drug task force, based in Ridgely, Maryland; which functions under the direction and control of the drug task force advisory board. The drug task force is comprised of sworn law enforcement officers and contributions from the Caroline County Sheriff’s Department, Maryland State Police, Maryland Natural Resources Police, Caroline County States Attorney’s Office, and the Denton Police Department.
The Caroline and Dorchester County Task Forces, Homeland Security Investigations and Drug Enforcement Administration, were further assisted by Dorchester County State’s Attorney’s Office, Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, MSP Special Operations Group, MSP STATE Team, MSP Homicide, MSP PACE, MSP Gun Unit, MSP Criminal Investigations (Easton, Centreville, Salisbury, Princess Anne and Worcester), MSP Technical Surveillance Unit, Easton Police Department, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, Talbot County Narcotics Task Force, Kent County Narcotics Task Force, Queen Anne’s County Narcotics Task Force, Somerset County Narcotics Task Force, Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office, Federalsburg Police, and the Hurlock Police Department.
The operation was further supported by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative, the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services, and the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network Initiative.
The Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN) is a criminal justice strategy, coordinated at the local, state, and federal levels targeting gangs, drug, firearms and human trafficking. MCIN is particularly focused on those criminal networks that are impacting multiple jurisdictions and accomplishes this by sharing information across borders. It is a key element of Maryland’s public safety strategy and provides the basis for data-driven decision making both operationally and for policy development.
The case remains under investigation …
